Debbi Michiko Florence

I had an absolutely wonderful time celebrating Girl’s Day at Newtonville Books on Saturday, March 3.  Girl’s Day or Hinamatsuri (doll festival) is a Japanese celebration honoring girls. My mom and me on Girl’s Day with the traditional set of dolls representing the Imperial Court Thank you to the amazing staff – Deb, Margaret, Guna,… Read more »

  On Saturday, October 28 at the Pao Arts Center in Boston’s Chinatown, I had the pleasure of working with Susan Tan, author of the middle grade book Cilla Lee-Jenkins, Future Author Extraordinaire. Families with kids joined us on a beautiful day – we read from our books and ran activities and crafts. Even the… Read more »

Book 3, Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl is available for pre-order! Pub date: April 3, 2018 It’s talent show time at school, and eight-year-old Jasmine Toguchi is excited to show her stuff. But as she thinks about her strengths―tree-climbing, mochi making, collage―none of them feel quite right to perform on-stage. Jasmine’s friends already have a talent:… Read more »

Thank you to everyone for making launch week for Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen and Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth amazing and wonderful! It lifted my heart to get your notes and social media boosts, and I loved seeing so many familiar faces at my launch party at Bank Square Books last week! Thank you! I’ve also… Read more »

Today is my book birthday! The culmination of 17 years of writing, revising, learning, growing, accumulating rejections, and writing again. I talk more about this dream come true on Emu’s Debuts, the blog for The Erin Murphy Literary Agency’s debut authors. There are so many people I want to thank, because without them, I would… Read more »

  Here are a few lists and interviews of me/Jasmine Toguchi: 2023 Book Review on Imaginary Elevators: Tokyo Holiday for Brave Explorer 2022 Author Spotlight Friday – Interview with me about Jasmine Toguchi Brave Explorer on Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester Podcast interview on Little Tokyo Talks – In episode 9, Sansei author Debbi Michiko… Read more »

In Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen, 8-year-old Jasmine wants to participate in the family tradition of making mochi or mochi-tsuki, but family rule says she must be 10 to help roll mochi with the women. Jasmine is determined to join in. She comes up with a plan to help not the women, but the men, and she wants… Read more »

I’m thrilled to share with you the cover for Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl, book 3 in my chapter book series! I’m grateful to talented illustrator Elizabet Vukovic who brings Jasmine and her friends and family to life, to fabulous designer Kristie Radwilowicz, and of course to my wise and wonderful editor at FSG, Grace Kendall. Jasmine… Read more »

Wow! Time does fly. In less than three months, my debut chapter book series, Jasmine Toguchi will launch with the first two books: Mochi Queen and Super Sleuth!   I’m thrilled and honored to share that Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild Fall 2017 selection! This has been a… Read more »

 Me with my mom and our Girl’s Day doll display. Today, March 3, is Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) or Girl’s Day. I have fond memories of this Japanese celebration while growing up in California. Girl’s Day features prominently in Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth, the second book of my upcoming chapter book series (FSG/July 11, 2017). For… Read more »